Older CB500: Luggage for touring?

[niggle]

I want to kit out a 90s CB500 for touring on tarmac, with enough luggage capacity for one person camping in the UK and Europe.

For reference when going camping on long weekends previously I had an MZ Skorpion Traveler with the smaller Hepco & Becker side cases, a largish dry bag slung across them and a tank bag (strap down variety as the tank was plastic), but for longer trips I will obviously need a little more space. The Honda is a totally blank canvas with absolutely nothing on it yet, not even a rack.

The Shad system looks good value and adequate capacity with top box and semi rigid panniers but I don’t know what the quality/durability is like.

Givi only do a top box rack, which is a shame as I like Givi stuff.

Hepco & Becker do a three case rack but it ain’t cheap and I never liked the cases on the MZ that much with the two separate fiddly clasps and locks.

I have not bothered to investigate Krauser, I don’t want to pay more for the luggage than the bike cost...

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

A credit card and a smart phone to find hotels with, have a pay app on the phone and you won't need a credit card.

[niggle]

A credit card and a smart phone to find hotels with, have a pay app on the phone and you won't need a credit card.

Good idea, why didn’t I think of that?!

In fact why don’t I just take the car and relax in total comfort with the heated seats and climate control?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

A credit card and a smart phone to find hotels with, have a pay app on the phone and you won't need a credit card.

Good idea, why didn’t I think of that?!

In fact why don’t I just take the car and relax in total comfort with the heated seats and climate control?

That sounds much better

[niggle]

Okay so developing the theme of making things safe, easy and comfortable I have considered coach tours, going by train and flying, but they all still have small elements of risk, hassle and discomfort therefore I am going to sit on the sofa and watch YouTube videos of other people travelling to far away exotic places.

Thank you so much Mr Big Cheese for saving me from my rash impulse to go beyond the front door

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I think you should travel, but do it in comfort.
Is travelling by CB500 with full camping gear risky, I knew someone who rode to Greece on a two stroke Vespa and slept in whatever lodgings he could find, he did admit to sleeping in hedges sometimes and getting hypothermia in Yugoslavia (it was 1986)

[Noggin]

I have no idea if this is possible for that bike but I always used a Ventura set up. They do various sized bags

I used to put the bag on the pillion seat (cos was usually heavier than the tent and sleep kit!) then the tent, sleep mat and bag in a roll bag on the actual rack. The Ventura bag would still be attached to the 'hoop' of the rack so it was secure. The sleep roll bag was secured on the rack with tie things/bungies (can't remember exactly what I used)

You can put the Ventura bag on the rack out over the back of the bike, but as I said, the heaviest bit used to sit on the pillion seat!!


Ventura kits are expensive (or were) but I found them really safe and simple. And when not needing the big rack for a back, they had a little hoop that fitted (like a grab rail) so you didn't have to have the 'scaffolding' on all the time!

[Noggin]

I think you should travel, but do it in comfort.
Is travelling by CB500 with full camping gear risky, I knew someone who rode to Greece on a two stroke Vespa and slept in whatever lodgings he could find, he did admit to sleeping in hedges sometimes and getting hypothermia in Yugoslavia (it was 1986)

Sometimes the fun is about going by bike! I hate camping but if I was to do long distance bike stuff over here in the summers, I'd be ok to camp cos its actually warm!!! No fun in the uk in rubbish weather!! LOL

[Rockburner]

Stay off large roads, and a CB500 is as good as anything.

Lockable panniers (whoever makes them) will be preferable to throwovers simply for the added security, and you don't need to squeeze them in the tent with you.

Whatever you choose - take a week's holiday and potter about the UK first to check all the kit works, is easy to set up and pack down (even when wet), you know how to use everything etc. I did that when I first had my camping van before heading off for Europe for a year, and it showed up a lot of little things that would have become major niggles if I hadn't taken time to sort them out before crossing the water.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I think you should travel, but do it in comfort.
Is travelling by CB500 with full camping gear risky, I knew someone who rode to Greece on a two stroke Vespa and slept in whatever lodgings he could find, he did admit to sleeping in hedges sometimes and getting hypothermia in Yugoslavia (it was 1986)

Sometimes the fun is about going by bike! I hate camping but if I was to do long distance bike stuff over here in the summers, I'd be ok to camp cos its actually warm!!! No fun in the uk in rubbish weather!! LOL

I actually hate camping when it's hot, I can't sleep when it's too hot, when it's cold I can wrap up all warm and toasty, until you need to pee, when it's bloody freezing when you get out of the sleeping bag.

[Noggin]

I think you should travel, but do it in comfort.
Is travelling by CB500 with full camping gear risky, I knew someone who rode to Greece on a two stroke Vespa and slept in whatever lodgings he could find, he did admit to sleeping in hedges sometimes and getting hypothermia in Yugoslavia (it was 1986)

Sometimes the fun is about going by bike! I hate camping but if I was to do long distance bike stuff over here in the summers, I'd be ok to camp cos its actually warm!!! No fun in the uk in rubbish weather!! LOL

I actually hate camping when it's hot, I can't sleep when it's too hot, when it's cold I can wrap up all warm and toasty, until you need to pee, when it's bloody freezing when you get out of the sleeping bag.

TBF I've never been camping when it's too hot to sleep (and I sleep with the window open in the apartment up here!!)

But it took years of buying different kit to be 'not freezing cold' when camping. I ended up with kit that I could manage a weekend away with but still preferred to sleep in the van (topper style mattress and could take my duvet and be proper warm!!). There's also the crawling out of a tent and ending up with water all down your back if you manage to scrape the tent on the way out

Will be interesting to see what it's like camping in the summer here!! LOL

[niggle]

Stay off large roads, and a CB500 is as good as anything.

Definitely is:

Lockable panniers (whoever makes them) will be preferable to throwovers simply for the added security, and you don't need to squeeze them in the tent

Yes but I am not made of money (hence the antiquated bike) and the only lockable hard case full system designed for the bike appears to be the Hepco and Becker, which works out very pricey, with rack, pair of smaller 30l side panniers and a top box exceeding £700, all to protect around £200-300 worth of stuff...

The Shad set up, or a Givi rack and monokey top box plus top quality throw overs, adds up to a fair bit less. I will just make sure all items of value or importance are kept in the top box and I can get a couple of soft bags in my tent porch ok.

I think I will go for the Givi etc as I cannot seem to find any proper user reviews re the Shad. So what is the best soft luggage? Durability is the most important thing to me followed by ease of attachment and detachment.

[wheelnut]

If you want the best soft luggage the Kreiga is probably up there, but it is a bit spendy by the time it adds up.

I tend to take dry bags and am a fan of Lomo stuff, good quality and good value.

Also look at Rok straps - superb for lashing stuff to a bike.

[weeksy]

If you want the best soft luggage the Kreiga is probably up there, but it is a bit spendy by the time it adds up.

Seems very very popular, i bought the Oxford equivalent which i do really like and seems great. Although due to Covid, i've not actually used it in anger.

[niggle]

And then I went and spoiled it all by doing something stupid like buying an Enfield

Royal Enfield Himalayan that is...

(Cue new thread about luggage for the new bike.)